Device for repairing boiler-flues.



H. J. TIBBENS.

DEVICE FOR REPAIRING BOILER nuns.-

APPLIUATION FILED IEB.28, 1911.

Patented Sept. 26,191;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. TIBBENS, 0F DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR REPAIRING BOILER-FLUES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911'.

Application filed February 28, 1911. Serial No. 611,467.

- and useful Improvements in Devices for Repairing Boiler-Flues, of which the following is a specification. s t

a This invention relates to improvements in the means for repairing boiler tlues, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed devioe whereby broken or fractured ends of boiler flues may be repaired and without reducing the heating surface or weakening the structure of the tube or the fiue sheet Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device whereby the repaired flue is protected from the influ'cnce of excessive heat- With these and other objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figurel is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a fine and portions ot'a flue sheet illustrating the manner of applying the improved repairing device; and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 9 2 of l ig. l.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accon'ipanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device may be applied without material structural change to boiler flucs ol? different: sizes and to boiler flucs manniact-urcd from different materials, but for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to the flue-sheet and a fine of amonventional gcneral'or, a portion of the flue sheet at the firc box end being represented conventionally at 10 and a portion of a tluc at 12. It will be assumed that the llue 12 has bccn fractured at the firc-box end, the fractures generally taking place close to the flue shcct. and when this occurs a plurality of small apcrturcs 3 are formed in the side of the lluc near the ends, thrce of ti apcrturcs being generally tormcd one at the bottom and one at each side, as shown.

The improved attachment comprises a thimble l4; corresponding in outer diameter to the inner diameter oi the fractured fine and inserted into the flue, as shown in Fig. l.

The thimblc is provided at its outer end with an annular bead 15 which extends beyond the adjacent edge of the original flue, as shown. After the thimble has been inserted into the flue the thimble is beaded, as shown at 16, to couple the thimble to the flue sheet, and another head 17 formed in the thiinble intermediate the head 16 and the inner end of thc thimble to couple the thimble to the flue, the flue being likewise beaded or pressed outwardly in the form of an annular bulge or projection. as represented at 18. By this means the thiinblc 1+ is coupled steam and water tight to the flue sheet and likewise coupled steam and water tight to the fine, the beading being accomplished in the usual manner by implements provided for that purpose.

In producing the coupling bead 16 the outer expansion of the material of the thimble likewise prcsscs the n'mfcrial of the flue outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1. thus leaving a space between the two bonds that docs not bcar closely against the inner face of the flue, thus lcaving a slight space so that the watciwwill freely circulate through the ventopcnings '13 between the thimblc and the adjacent portion of the flue. thcrcby preventing unequal expansion and conlraclion which wouldotherwise destroy the inf'cgrity ol the joint t'm'mcd by the beads; This is an important feature of :qiplicants dcvice and materially incrcascs its cllicicncy and utility, as thereby all danger ol unequal expansion and contraction is prevented,

The 'inq'irovcd dcvico is simple in construction, can be rcadily consfrucfwl to fit flucs of various sizes and renders the flue l2 equally as strong as it was originull v, hence the, rcpaircd flue will last as long as the originally new fine. The improved device docs not lcssen the heating surface, while the vents lit by pcrmilting the free circulation of the wafer prevent the deterioration by the intense heat to which devices of this character are subjected both from the inside and outside.

.'lho vcnls 13 are prcl'cral'ily formed by cutting Ll-shapcd clcfls through the material of the line and bonding the tongues thus produ ed outwardly, as shown, thus avoiding lhc ucccssily for cutting out any of the inclal. Any required number of the vents may be employed, but generally three will be sullicicul, as shown.

The improved repairing thimble renders the repaired flue practically as good and as strong as the original flue, and does not as before stated, reduce the heating surface, which is the principal objection to the cast iron plug; usually employed for repairing broken flue ends.

Preferably the usual copper gasket or expansion ring 1.9 Will be left in position as shown. I

Having: thus described the invent-ion, what claimed as new is The combination with a boiler flue having vent openings near the end, of a thimble extending into said flue and beyond thevents and with an outwardly directed head at the outer end adapted to engage against the flue sheet, said t-himble being further beaded between the vent opening and the flue and also near its inner end whereby the flue material is pressed outwardly and spaced slightly from the thimble to provide for circulation of Water between the flue and thimble.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. TIBBENS. [1,. s] \Vitnesscs ESTHER MUELLER, ll. F. ESPENSCIIEID, 

